The affiliation allows further collaboration to advance cancer research

FORT MYERS, Fla. And SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - 21st Century Oncology today announced it will more closely combine cancer research initiatives with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the original and largest teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School (HMS).

Currently, 21st Century Oncology, the largest U.S. radiation therapy provider, conducts cancer research alongside MGH within the framework of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), a national cancer research organization funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to increase the survival rates and improve the quality of life of patients diagnosed with cancer.
In February 2014, the NCI will implement a reorganized cooperative structure, combining three specialized oncology research bodies into one, all-encompassing clinical research collective. The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the RTOG, and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) will become NRG Oncology.

"We are pleased to continue this relationship with Massachusetts General Hospital under the NRG reorganization," says Daniel Dosoretz, MD, FACR, FACRO, President, CEO and Co-Founder of 21st Century Oncology. "The research and clinical trials we conduct today will improve outcomes for patients with cancer moving forward."

21st Century Oncology is conducting clinical research trials at sites across the country and assessing the effectiveness of various cancer treatments. "Physicians are currently evaluating advanced therapy in breast cancer, prostate cancer and bladder cancer and look forward to expanding to other sites including lung cancer," says Steven Finkelstein, MD, National Director, 21st Century Oncology Translational Research Consortium.

"I am pleased as the Principal Investigator of the MGH/HMS, full membership within the RTOG, to be continuing our relationship with 21st Century Oncology to increase the participation for patients on clinical trials as we transition to NRG Oncology in 2014," says William U. Shipley, MD, FACR, FASTRO who is the Andres Soriano Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School and the MGH. "It is this kind of collaboration and cooperation among leading researchers that will help advance cancer treatment for our patients and save more lives."

About 21st Century Oncology:

21st Century Oncology is the foremost provider of cancer care services across multiple modalities, and the largest radiation oncology provider. For more than 30 years, 21st Century Oncology has been committed to providing state-of-the-art, academic level treatment options in a patient-centric setting focused on continuous innovation. Headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, the physician-led company operates in 15 states and 7 countries, with an extensive network of over 300 locations, including approximately 131 radiation therapy facilities. 21st Century Oncology employs or is affiliated with hundreds of physicians in a broad spectrum of cancer-related specialists-working together to deliver the most advanced integrated cancer care. For more information about research and clinical trials with 21st Century Oncology, visit www.21stCenturyOncology.com/Research-Outcomes

About Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United States, with an annual research budget of more than $775 million and major research centers in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, human genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, reproductive biology, systems biology, transplantation biology and photomedicine. For more information about Massachusetts General Hospital, visit www.MassGeneral.org

About NRG Oncology

NRG Oncology is a nonprofit research organization formed to conduct oncologic clinical research and to broadly disseminate study results for informing clinical decision-making and healthcare policy. It brings together the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)-each recognized internationally as a research leader.

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